Thought I would share my first UDS build. Through all my research and much influence from others creations this is what I came up with. Everything besides the barrel (craigslist), thermometer (local bbq shot) and pizza pans (Wal-Mart) was found at Home Depot.

Started with a new barrel, 55 gal, no liner. I first picked up a lined Canola oil barrel and after seeing others trial and tribulations with lined barrels I started looking for an unlined barrel. Found one on Craigslist.

Drilled the holes and Stripped the paint, started with a cordless drill and quickly found out that didn't work well. Battery doesn't last long. Picked up a corded drill from Harbor Freight.

Put one probe and surface thermo in the middle, the other probe on the outside just to see how it performs

And its smoking, I still need to make a more permanent mount for the thermometer

And after 20 minutes we are up to temp.

Its been about 3 hours now and the temps are very steady at 253F middle probe and 257F outside edge probe, pizza pan diffuser seams to be keeping the temps from the middle to the outside pretty close. I also have a small 2 pound pre-marinated pork loin to throw on after a little bit to see how it does. So far pretty happy with it.

Well, after 10 hours the temp is at 263f. Im impressed at how well it held the temps. I just shut it down, will check tomorrow at how much coal it used. Ive been wanting to try a lump coal and see how it differs. Im a novice so im still learning everytime I fire up the grill. The pizza pan heat diffuser worked great. The temps from the inside vs. the outside edge stayed less the 10 degrees variance. Cant wait to throw on a brisket and some ribs.